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More Females Share Car Care; One-third of DIYers Now Women and Growing

BETHESDA, Md., Feb. 27 -- While males still dominate the do- it-yourself (DIY) segment of the automotive aftermarket, the percentage of female DIY vehicle maintainers is growing. Females are now responsible for performing maintenance in one-third of all DIY households, according to a market research study by the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA).

The Aftermarket Consumer: Do-it-Yourself or Do-it-for-Me study reveals that from 1994 to 2000, the percentage of total U.S. households performing light, medium or heavy-duty maintenance has remained constant, despite perceptions about a shrinking DIY market. Since 1994, the percentage of DIY households with female DIYers has increased from 27 percent to 34 percent. Males still comprise the remaining 66 percent of the DIY market.

The report profiles the typical female DIY as 46 years old, married, attended college and employed full time. Her household income is $52,100, with two family vehicles, which she typically works on about once every two to three months, primarily to save money. She is older, more educated and has a higher household income than her 1994 counterpart.

Most female DIYers (62 percent) do light maintenance which includes changing the oil, rotating tires, checking and refilling fluids and changing or replacing wipers and batteries. One fourth of female DIYers tackle medium maintenance jobs such as installing new brakes, draining, flushing and refilling the cooling system, replacing ignition parts, installing mufflers or exhaust systems and replacing shock absorbers.

``There is a common misperception that modern automobiles are too complicated and high-tech for consumers to work on themselves,'' said Alfred L. Gaspar, AAIA president and CEO. ``The reality is that numerous maintenance and repair tasks can be easily performed in the driveway or garage at home. Families are saving valuable time and money and having a lot of fun doing it themselves.''

``Our research shows that the DIY market is strong. It should be, because for most people the automobile is their second biggest investment, after the home. By performing routine maintenance and repairs, consumers can take control of their vehicle's safety and dependability and take pride in ownership,'' said Gaspar.

The Aftermarket Consumer: Do-it-Yourself or Do-it-For-Me is a 110-page comprehensive report that includes:

Trends in DIY and DIFM maintenance incidence and frequency; Analysis of DIY consumers in 1994 and 2000; Analysis of DIFM consumer in 1999; DIY and DIFM maintenance practices by age, gender, vehicle type and age; Consumer auto parts and accessories purchases patterns; Analysis of DIY and DIFM consumer shopping activities; Types of tools owned by DIYers and DIFMs; Profiles of the typical DIYers and DIFMs. The report is available to AAIA members for $295 and $495 for non-members. To order a copy, call 301-654-6664, or order on-line at http://www.aftermarket.org (click on products).

About the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association:

The Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA) is a Bethesda, Md.- based association whose member companies manufacture, distribute and sell motor vehicle parts, accessories, tools, equipment, materials and supplies. The organization is comprised of manufacturers, distributors, jobbers, wholesalers, retailers, manufacturer's representatives and other companies doing business in the automotive aftermarket. AAIA formerly served the aftermarket as APAA and ASIA.